One of the basic concepts in science is recognizing that all things can be classified as living or nonliving. In this lesson, your students will explore the characteristics of living and nonliving things with engaging hands-on activities.

Provide students with an opportunity to closely examine the difference between a topic and main idea in a nonfiction text. Use as a stand-alone activity or a support for the Finding the Main Idea and Details in a Nonfiction Text lesson.

Use this lesson to teach your students about the characteristics of mammals and birds. Teach them about unique mammals and birds that do not have the characteristics of the average mammal and bird.

Use this lesson to teach your students about the planets that are the farthest away from the sun! Teach them about the planets with rings and the materials inside the rings.

Use this lesson to teach your students about the different types of species and how to categorize them! Your students will learn characteristics about vertebrates and invertebrates.

Come on in, the water’s fun! In this activity, students see the water cycle in action with ordinary objects and learn the water the dinosaurs tasted is still around.